Omaha daily bee., 1887-01-07
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
The Pacific Railroad Funding Bill oonsid-
cred in the Senate.
MRS. LOGAN eRANTeDAPENsloN
Discussion OF the Interstate Com
merce Measure Reconnaissance
Time Spent in the House on the
Erie Canal Subject.
Senate.

| MORALS presented in the senate to-day and
referred were the following.
BY Mr.. Edmunds-Of the committee Of the
/ national convention of the Protestant Epis
copal church, praying congress to provide for
obtaining statistics of marriage and divorce
By Mr.. Spooner-0f the state grange OF
Wisconsin, in favor of passing the inter.
state commerce bill.
By Mr.. Blair-A large number from various
organizations in all parts of the country ask
ing legislation to prevent violation of tn e
Sabbath in running railroad trains.
Among the bills introduced and referred
were the following.
BY Mr. Nance-1o protect the morals of
minors in the District of Columbia
Mr. EdmundS, from the committee on for
eiSn relations, reported bill to incorporate
the Maritime Canal company of Nicaragua
Calendar.
Mr. Manderson brought before the senate
the case of the claim against Mexico for the
killing of Cantan Crawford, in command of
the United States troops in pursuit of Ger
onimo, by Mexican troops in Mexico, Janu-
ary, 1856 stating that n stronger and more
urgent bill for indemnity should be made in
introducing the bill for the relief of Captain
Crawford's heirs. Referred.
Mr.. Allison offered resolution calling on
the secretary of war Tor the report of the
board of engineers on the bridging of the
Mississippi river near st. Louis. The reso-
luton gave rise to a discussion between
MesSrs. Allison and West, in which the latter
declared that the report called for, being ad-
verse to the bridge, had been obtained under
eX parte proceedings and unfairly. The reso-
luton was adopted.
The senate then took up the resolution of
fered yesterday by Mr.. Mcpherson, calling
on the secretary of the treasury for state
ment of the Indebtedness of the Pacific rail
foad companies to the government and as TO
the effect of the funding bill thereon.
Mr.. lloar withdrew his amendment, calling
for an additional statement as to the dis
puted questions between the government
and the companies stating that his object
would be equally effected under the original
resolution.
Mr.. Edmunds said the report of the COM
missioner of railroads, Johnston, answered
every question in the resolution completely,
tuIly and in detail. If the senator from New
jersey wanted it he (Edmundsj had no OBJ
JeCtlon. The resolution was agreed to.
The senate, on motion of Mitchell of Penn
sylvania, took up the bill to give pension of
$4,000 year to Mary. 5. Logan, widow of
General Logan, as major general of volun-
tecrs, Mitchell stating that the bill proposed to
do precisely what was done for the widows of
Generals Hancock and Thomas. There was
great distinction between the case fof Gen
eral Logan and the cases of Generals Han
cock and Thomas, who had spent their lives
in the army, in so far as pension was con-
cerned. lie thought that the case of General
Logan should stand on the same
tracted in the army n disease
from which he died there would be ample
ground for pension for his widow. Mr..
Mitchell stated that he had heard General
hn ha AZ tNynI IaI i,tnt tn,np
and that he was undoubtedly entitled to
pension, but had never claimed one. He
passed this bin on the proposition that pen
sion is granted to the widow of a citizen who
died from the effects of a disease rheu-
matiSm), contracted in the service during the
war. lie referred to the analogous case of a
pension given to the widow of Francis u.
Blair.
Mr.. Cullom stated that Logan had con-
tracted rheumatism on the battle field of Fort
Donelson, where he LAID in the snow all
night. There was no doubt that he died of
rheumatism contracted in the service of his
country.
Mr.. Sewell said he had frequently heard
Logan describe his SuiieringS from rhcu-
natiSm in the different fields of the war. 1t
was so plainly potent to every member of the
pension committee that Logan's death was
due to that cause that they did not take the
trouble to go farther into the subject.
MIR. Vest offered an amendment fixing the
pension of the widow of Francis p Blair at
S2,O00a year, asserting that if the widow and
family of any man were to be paid out of the
treasury in proportion to his public servicesit
was the widow and family of Francis L. Blair.
At the request of Mr.. Hawley and other
senators he withdrew his amendment and
then the bill was passed without division.
Mr.. Vest thercupOn introduced bill in
creasing the pension of Mrs. Blair from SO
month to -, 600 year and ut his request
the bill was Immediately considered and
passed.
on motion of Mr.. Edmunds the bill to
carry into effect the treaty with China for the
suppression of the opium traffic was taken up
and passed.
The bill granting to the Kansas, Texas &
Southwestern railroad company the right OF
way across the Fort Hayes military reServa-
ton was taken up and passed.
Then the senate, al 10 y. m., resumed con
sderatiOn of the interstate commerce bill,
and Mr.. Plat continued his argument.
He said that the senators were not here to
make a raid on railroad property They
We're here to do Justice by the railroads and
by the people. An unremuneratiye rate was
just as unreasonable and injurious as too
high q rate, and the railroad companies
would have to see to 1t, if the public welfare
was TO be promoted that rcmuneratve rates
for freight and passengers were received
What were the railroads to do if piohibited
from making pooling arrangements? EN-
perence taught that the old rate wars would
begin again and the end of II would be, as ii
always mad been consolidation. The mono
poles OF this country had been built on tine
graves of weak competitors. The bill invited
n grand monopoly OF railroad capital in this
country which would be built on the graves of
the railroads that are not able to stand in the
competition. That railroad monopoly would
be the master OF the people.
Mr.. Morg3n opposed the bill.
Mr.. CullOm said that he was very anxious
to have the bill disposed of as soon as pos
sble consistent with a fair discussion, and
lie therefore gave notice that on Tuesday or
Wednesday next he would ask the senate to
remain in session until the subject was dis
posed Of.
After, executive session the senate ad.
jOurned.
House.
WAsHINGToN. Jan. {. During the morn
ing hour the house resumed, in committee
of the whole, consideration of the bill for
the permanent improvement of the Erie and
Oswego canals and to secure the freedom of
the same TO the commerce Of the United
States.
Mr.. Randall suggested that an early vote
should be taken on the measure. IL was not
likely to pass, and it would be well to allow
some other proposition TO obtain tine floor
Mr. Weaver of Iowa seconded this sug-
gestiOn, remarking that the bill would fail
unless the IIennepin canal appropriation was
attached to il,
Mr.. Weber of New York concluded his